Abstract
This study was conducted to assess the diagnostic potential and pitfalls of performing fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) for thyroid nodules. We retrospectively analyzed 1012 aspirated samples obtained from 806 thyroid nodules by the ultrasound (US)-guided method. Of these 806 nodules, 226 (31%) had been surgically treated, 152 (67%) of which were histologically diagnosed as malignant. The rate of sufficient aspirate was 82%, being lower in nodules with a diameter of less than 5 mm (73%, P = 0.10); either calcified (77%, P = 0.043) or benign (72%, P = 0.0002). The accuracy of FNAC was 75%, the rate of indeterminate diagnosis was 16%, the false negative rate was 13%, and the positive malignancy rate was 99%. The rate of indeterminate diagnosis was higher in adenomatous goiter, follicular carcinoma, and malignant lymphoma, at P = 0.015, P = 0.0008, and P = 0.035, respectively. The accuracy was lower in follicular carcinoma and malignant lymphoma (both at P = 0.013). Sufficient aspirate was finally obtained from 701 (87%) of the 806 nodules by repeated aspiration. Of 152 malignant nodules, 28 (18%) were diagnosed after two or more aspirations, and the accuracy was improved to 81% by repeating the procedure. These findings indicated that repeated aspiration may be a simple and effective method of improving the diagnostic potential of FNAC.
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Received: November 1, 1999 / Accepted: September 26, 2000
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Ogawa, Y., Kato, Y., Ikeda, K. et al. The Value of Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology for Thyroid Nodules: An Assessment of Its Diagnostic Potential and Pitfalls. Surg Today 31, 97–101 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s005950170190
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s005950170190